Server Downtime (Extended)

[Simon]

The server is being moved from its current data center in Portland, OR to a new location in Chicago, IL. This will result in an extended downtime period.

We will be taking the server down on January 17th, 2011. It is expected to be unavailable until sometime on January 19th (hopefully). This downtime will include all services, including website, forums and email services.

[yamamura]

But how will I survive? I need to wish people Happy B-day. They can't do that to me! PANIC!

[Nolgroth]

Good luck with the move and I hope everything goes smoothly and without complications.

[mattingly]

But how will I survive?
Come visit the BlackWyrm forum for your fix.

[Vondy]

May the Hero Boards be blessed with a smooth transition.

[Simon]

In preparation for the move, we've migrated DNS services to their new home. This should be a transparent change for now (all records pointing to the same IP addresses), so please post here if you notice anything that is not accessible (e.g. mail bouncing, not able to access the website, etc.)

[amanojaku]

I'm curious, are you physically moving the server hardware from one part of the country to another? I mean, you're not just transferring the contents of the hard drive to a new server system?

[Alcamtar]

I didn't know it was in Portland!

[Patriot]

Actually they are Playtesting the new Cyberhero LARP. Steve has to down load the database into his head, it will of course be corrupted. He will be chased by agents of WOTC. Assuming he make sit to Chicago , Simon will download the material using the aid of a very smart fish. They will do a webcast then gamers will rampage WOTC hq and burn it to the ground.

Yes, its my day off
Yes , I have to much time on my hands

[BobGreenwade]

Will there be any way, other than just periodically logging on and testing, for us to know when the server is back up?

[Simon]

Will there be any way, other than just periodically logging on and testing, for us to know when the server is back up?

Wait until Wednesday and hope?

Alternates:

Use the Force

Check Email for people that are quicker on the uptake and have posted to threads that you're subscribed to

Watch my FB status to see if I'm suicidal (bad...server damaged in the move) or happy (good...server is up)

Setup a steady ping of www.herogames.com and hope that the server will respond to ICMP echo requests when it comes up

Or, my favorite: Stare at your HG-addicted friend as he sits in front of his computer looking very sad and wait for his mood to change. Bonus points if you monitor him via live webcam.

[Simon]

Note on the FB status monitoring:

There will be multiple levels of "bad" for me:

Level 1: Damage to some of the server hardware (not the hard drives). Slightly extended downtime as I rush to replace the damaged components.

Level 2: Damage to the backup drive. Largely gets a "meh" reaction....though I'll grumble about having to replace it.

Level 3: Damage to one of the main (mirrored) drives. Slight grabber on my side until I determine that the alternate mirrored drive is intact.

Level 4: Damage to the backup drive and one of the main drives. Paramedics will be on-hand for this one...largely for the delivery guy.

Level 5: Damage to both of the mirrored drives. UPS delivery guy will require immediate (and critical) medical attention.

Level 6: Damage to all of the hard drives (both mirrored drives and the backup drive). I'll be found in the pub. In Ireland. Avoiding extradition.

[ghost-angel]

Are we starting a betting pool....

[Escafarc]

Question about the downtime for Sunday the 16th, is that 5pm EST or some other Timezone?

[Michael Hopcroft]

Will there be any changes to the BBS software or other website systems after the move? I've been hoping for a restoration of the function that enables you to locate specific posts in your searches (really handy if you're looking for a specific message in an old thread), whose disappearance seemed inexplicable to me.

Unless of course it never really disappeared and I just don't know how to use it.

[Simon]

Seriously? That's your concern?

No. I'm not making ANY changes during the process of moving the server across the country.

[Nolgroth]

Me? I'll just be thankful if all of the data is still intact. Then again, a fresh start may not be such a bad thing.

[Sketchpad]

Are we starting a betting pool....

Put me down for 40 XP on "Level 6: Damage to all of the hard drives (both mirrored drives and the backup drive). I'll be found in the pub. In Ireland. Avoiding extradition. " :D

[Steve]

How much data do the drives actually contain? Has it crossed the Terrabyte level for the website, store and forums?

[Simon]

No, the data has not crossed the terabyte level.

[Simon]

And we're back. Would have been a completely smooth transfer except for a minor typo (an errant ".") in the firewall configuration....took _way_ too long to trace the problems back to that, but it's done.

[Hermit]

Nice work!

[archermoo]

"And there was much rejoicing!"

[Simon]

Now that all of the configurations are changed over, please let me know if you see any issues (services not responding, server seeming slower than normal, etc.). With luck, the move to the new datacenter will result in better response times (less latency) for folks that were having issues with the previous facility.

[Michael Hopcroft]

And we're back. Would have been a completely smooth transfer except for a minor typo (an errant ".") in the firewall configuration....took _way_ too long to trace the problems back to that, but it's done.

That is great news! Thanks very much, and let's hope it doesn't have to be done again for a very long time.

[Nolgroth]

Wow. That was quick. Not that you need it from me, but well done.

[L. Marcus]

"And there was much rejoicing!"

Yaaay. :straight:

[yamamura]

And we're back. Would have been a completely smooth transfer except for a minor typo (an errant ".") in the firewall configuration....took _way_ too long to trace the problems back to that, but it's done.

I hate those type of problems. Amazing what one misplaced or a comma instead of a period can do. Great job Simon!

[SCUBA Hero]

Bravo! :celebrate